|I hope you have lost nothing, ladies?” cried the stranger.
“The robbers have taken, my purse,” replied Mrs. Calverley; “and but for
your timely aid, they would have carried off all our ornaments.”
“My chain is gone,” said Mildred. “But I don't mind it. They did not get
my watch, which I value extremely. I owe its preservation entirely to
you, sir,” she added, with a grateful look at the stranger.
“I am happy to find I have been of any service to you,” he replied,
bowing. “Follow the rascals, Tom,” he added to his groom, “and try to
capture one or both of them.”
“Impossible, I fear, captain,” replied the groom. “They can go where no
horse can go in that marsh, if they know the ground, as they seem to do.
But I'll do my best.”
And he speeded after the fugitives, who were still in sight.
“Hold the reins for a minute, Mildred, while I pick up my whip,” said
Mrs. Calverley.
“Allow me!” cried the stranger.
And, jumping down from the saddle, he presented the whip to Mrs.
Calverley, who gracefully acknowledged the attention.
“We are really very much indebted to you, sir,” she said.
“You greatly overrate the service,” he rejoined. “I have literally done
nothing. Hearing cries, and perceiving you were stopped by robbers, I
galloped on to your aid--that is all.”
“May we learn the name of our deliverer?” she asked.
“I am Captain Charles Danvers,” he replied; “nephew to Sir Lycester
Barfleur, of Brackley Hall, which you can see through the trees yonder.
But I dare say you know the place?”
“We were on our way thither, to call on Lady Barfleur, when we met with
this alarming adventure,” observed Mrs. Calverley.
An idea seemed suddenly to occur to Captain Danvers.
“Are you not Mrs. Calverley, of Ouselcroft?” he inquired.
She replied in the affirmative; adding, “And this is my step-daughter,
Miss Calverley.”
“I felt convinced of it!” he cried, again bowing. “I am indeed fortunate
in obtaining an introduction to a young lady of whom I have heard so
much.”
“You can pay compliments as well as rescue ladies from robbers, it
seems, Captain Danvers,” observed Mildred, slightly blushing. “We should
have met you, I have no doubt, at Brackley Hall.”
“Very likely,” he rejoined. “But I prefer an accidental meeting of this
kind; it is more romantic. I hope you are not going to turn back. If you
are, you must allow me to escort you. But they will be delighted to see
you, I am sure, at Brackley, and you can recount your adventure to
them.”
“And extol your gallantry at the same time, Captain Danvers,” laughed
Mildred. “I have quite recovered from my fright, mamma, so I think we
may as well go on.”
“Do, by all means!” cried Captain Danvers, vaulting on his horse.
Mrs. Calverley assented; and they were just setting off, when the groom
was seen returning, so they waited until he came up.
“I see you have failed, Tom,” said his master.
“Yes, captain,” replied the man, touching, his hat. “I'm very sorry, but
it was no use attempting to follow them. I should have got over head and
ears in a quagmire.”
“Immediate information of the robbery must be given to the police at
Frodsham,” said Captain Danvers.
“It is scarcely worth while to take any more trouble about the matter,”
said Mrs. Calverley. “My purse had very little in it.”
“And I don't care much for my chain, since my watch is safe,” added
Mildred.
The party then set off, but not at a very quick pace, for Captain
Danvers rode by the side of the pony-carriage, and chatted with its fair
occupants.